Participation of Belarus in the Multilateral Efforts to Combat International Terrorism

In the framework of cooperation to counter international terrorism, the Republic of Belarus is party to all major universal legal instruments in this field concluded under the auspices of the United Nations (see the list attached).

Belarus supported the adoption in 2006 of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. This Strategy was the first document of its kind, containing common strategic approach to countering terrorism on the basis of joint national, regional and international efforts of the UN member states.

Since 2009 Belarus has participated in the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism, which assembles today 85 Partner Nations. This Initiative, which is of voluntary nature, aims at facilitating the development of necessary infrastructure of accounting and control of nuclear and radioactive materials, improving the capabilities to detect and investigate illicit trafficking of such materials, and increasing the security level at the civilian nuclear facilities.

The regional efforts in combatting terrorism are streamlined within the Commonwealth of Independent States. CIS Member States have developed legal framework for such cooperation, including the Treaty on Cooperation of CIS Member States in Combatting Terrorism signed in Minsk in 1999. The coordination of the activities of competent authorities is facilitated through the CIS Anti-Terrorism Centre, created in 2000.

As a Member State of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). Belarus participates in this Organization’s activities to counter terrorism, drug trafficking and other security threats and challenges. The cooperation is maintained in the form dialogue between national anti-terrorism organs and special units, conduct of training and exercises on combatting illicit drug trafficking, illegal migration and cybercrimes.

The Republic of Belarus is a member of the Eurasian group on combating money laundering and financing of terrorism (EAG). This regional organization, patterned after Financial Action Task Force (FATF), aims at facilitation of the effective integration of its member states into the international infrastructure for combatting money laundering and terrorism financing according to FATF Recommendations and other international organizations’ standards.

In line with this resolution of the UN Security Council, Belarus agreed to provide to NATO the possibility of rail transit through its territory of non-lethal cargo belonging to the Alliance, its member states and other nations contributing to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). Since 2011, constant transit of non-lethal supplies for ISAF is performed through the territory of Belarus. Such agreement with the Alliance was formalized by exchange of letters between the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus and the NATO Secretary General. Belarus has been providing its airspace for the transit of Alliance’s military and civilian goods.

List of universal legal instruments to counter international terrorism, the Republic of Belarus is party to

1. Convention on Offences and Certain Other Acts Committed On Board Aircraft (1963)
2. Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Seizure of Aircraft (1970)
3. Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Civil Aviation (1971)
4. Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes Against Internationally Protected Persons, Including Diplomatic Agents (1973)
5. International Convention against the Taking of Hostages (1979)
6. Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (1980)
7. Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts of Violence at Airports Serving International Civil Aviation, supplementary to the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Civil Aviation (1988)
8. Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation (1988)
9. Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Fixed Platforms Located on the Continental Shelf (1988)
10. Convention on the Marking of Plastic Explosives for the Purpose of Detection (1991)
11. International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings (1997)
12. International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism (1999)
13. International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (2005)